Different parts of the trail were known by different names. Old Santa Fe Road, Fort Hays Road and Fort Dodge Road were names of parts of the trail passing through Kansas. Further south, the names became more forboding, from the "Dry Route" and "La Jornada del Muerto" which was the Mexican name for the southern part of the trail, meaning "Dead Man's Journey." Forts and trading posts were prevalent along the Santa Fe at one time, but then that dastardly railroad really ruined everyone's good time.

There is also a very odd scene in the movie where all the West Point cadets hang out with an Indian fortune teller/future seer who tells them they will all end up as enemies and predicts an oncoming war that will put them at odds with one another. They all laugh and drink and look for another party to go to at this point.

The only time the Santa Fe Trail comes into play in the film is when our heroes help lead a wagon caravan along the trail to New Mexico. They sing a song while they travel along the trail.